VP-elect Biden will play a key role by leading the meeting to help pass the stimulus package.

(CNN) - CNN has learned that Vice President-elect Joe Biden will chair a meeting of the transition team's top economic advisers on Tuesday, as the incoming administration ramps up its efforts to piece together an urgent economic recovery package and try to sell the expected $775 billion plan to Congress.

Two Democratic officials told CNN the meeting at the Washington transition headquarters will include Lawrence Summers, President-elect Barack Obama's pick to chair the National Economic Council, a key policymaking arm within the White House that will be charged with formulating the new administration's response to the financial crisis.

The fact that Biden is leading the meeting suggests the incoming Vice President will play a key role in helping to pass the stimulus package. That's significant because Biden's low profile in recent days has sparked speculation that he will be sidelined in the new administration, especially since his strongest asset - foreign policy - is going to be largely handled by Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.

But Biden himself said during the campaign that he was not seeking any specific task, and would not cut as wide a swatch as Vice President Cheney. Instead Biden said during the vice presidential debate that he would focus more broadly on using his four decades of experience in the U.S. Senate helping Obama govern by move legislation through Congress.

"I have a history of getting things done in the United States Senate," Biden said during his one debate with Republican Gov. Sarah Palin. "John McCain would acknowledge that. My record shows that, on controversial issues. I would be the point person for the legislative initiatives in the United States Congress for our administration."

After being conspicuously quiet in the early weeks of the transition, Biden is suddenly raising his profile to selling an expensive economic plan to lawmakers suffering from sticker shock after one government bailout after another. He appeared on his first Sunday talk show as Vice President-elect this wekeend by going on ABC's "This Week" to declare that bolder action is needed now to prevent the economy from "absolutely tanking" at this point.

The Biden Tour continues Monday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," where Biden will again declare that he's planning to be "counselor-in-chief" rather than having overarching power on any specific issues.

soundoff(91 Responses)

76th out of 85 at a tier 2 law school AND he cheated! Yeah, I'm sure he'll be great.

December 22, 2008 10:01 pm at 10:01 pm |

DC Observer

The LAST thing Obama ought to permit is for Biden to raise his profile - If he does, America will see just what a bozo we have for a VP.

December 22, 2008 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

Matt of Boston

All Biden has given us thus far is campaign rhetoric about how bad Bush was .... and how our economy is "about to tank"

Gee, that ought to lift everbody's spirits ........ NOT!

December 22, 2008 10:11 pm at 10:11 pm |

Noel

I think it's time Biden does something. With all due respect to him, he hasn't gotten any major media specualtion( I mean this in a good way.) Biden will do good with this economic meeting. It's time he got to do something great for the country, and revolutionize the vice presidency to get more involved in issues. I think that this meeting is just the thing Joe Biden needed.

December 22, 2008 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

Alman

I don't think Glenn Martin and others did know what they are talking about Politics and the future about America. Some of this inexperienced viewers on this site say negative things to the incoming Obama/Biden Adminstration due to personal and discriminative issues that doesn't make sense towards the future of the American people. The word hate is big and a failure to unity which American need presently.
Most of us woke up very early in the morning to go to work as you do and even work more difficult jobs than some of you guys here with such inmatured and inexperienced views of hatred. Most of you viewers here are dependant and still living with your parents with no idea of the incoming stimulus package and plans of the incoming adminstration.

December 22, 2008 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

Who let the kids out?

Anyone that spends his or her day listening to AM radio talkies and believing all their tripe are the real morons.

December 22, 2008 10:18 pm at 10:18 pm |

Richard Neffson

Joe Biden will be most effective by seeing and working with Barack Obama every day and playing a key role in making the critical decisions in domestic and foreign affairs. Yes, HIllary Clinton will be the a key figure in developing foreign policy but in the end the big decisions will be made in the White House and Hillary will not be in that house. She will get more air time than Biden but proximity to power is the key and Hillary will truly be in the Foggy Bottom.

December 22, 2008 10:19 pm at 10:19 pm |

Wes

I voted for Obama. That said, where is this money coming from? They won't raise your taxes. No. They are going to create that money out of very very thin air. The Fed buys the U.S. Treasury securities with a bogus check, then they wire the banks of the Securities brokerage firms the funny money. Then the field day starts for the banks: for every $1 they have in "reserve," they can create 9 more dollars to lend to us at interest. The end result is inflation... the "hidden tax." We see prices go up, but really our dollars have been devalued. I urge you to learn more about this. Try google.

December 22, 2008 10:24 pm at 10:24 pm |

Jim

Biden is the Democrat's version of Dan Quayle on sterroids...Letterman and Leno will have to choose what to use. What a moron – after his 'you have to speak Indian to communicate in a Seven-Eleven in Delaware' comment, I'm actually looking FORWARD to him taking center stage. He will, however, be the first one with his hand up Obama's hiney making his lips move. Complete tool....

Not sure what will be worse – the moron in the office now, or the puppet about to take his place. Maybe at least THIS Democrat can keep his pants zipped up (yeah, thanks for the memories, Bill....).

December 22, 2008 10:29 pm at 10:29 pm |

Texas Teacher

Well, as Obama said, the buck stops with him. But I was sure he did not choose Biden to shove him back in a corner somewhere. I'm glad we are beginning to see a bit more of his coming role.

December 22, 2008 10:36 pm at 10:36 pm |

Polly

There must be some concern.

December 22, 2008 10:41 pm at 10:41 pm |

Go Joe...

I cannot wait to see the Obama / Biden team get to work. I have never believed as others (media, neo-cons, etc) that Biden would not be instrumental and valuable to this administration. We must remember all of them are human and will inevitably make mistakes but if their campaign and the actions of the past few weeks are any indication of what is to come in the next four years; they are welcome to my $60.00 contribution.

It is so nice to see coherence, competency, and cooperation in our leaders! When I think of where we have been and what might have been...well, I just shudder! Thank you voters for standing by your country and making a critical and needed choice ...for change!!!

Obama/Biden

December 22, 2008 10:48 pm at 10:48 pm |

Polly

It's going to be an interesting 4 years ahead gang.

December 22, 2008 10:51 pm at 10:51 pm |

Mike

Yes, I must agree with the individuals challenging the incoming administration to actually read the Constitution. For instance, they wouldn't know the 2nd Amendment if it bit them in the rear. And for the fallacy of "separartion of church and state", if you can find that phrase you're a far wiser man than I. That's because it does not exist. There is a decree that the government establish "no official religion" (e.g., The Church of England), but it is not written anywhere that God Almighty be excluded from our public/government lives. Sorry, atheists, but you have no Constitutional leg on which to stand.

December 22, 2008 10:51 pm at 10:51 pm |

Leah Trantham

Biden was a plagiarist. He speaks not to enlighten but to promote himself. He needs to excercise prudence, be silent at the appropriate times , and try not to overshadow Mr. Obama with his "eagerness"(which could be misconstrued as stealing the limelight). I did not vote for Mr. Obama, but I would like him to be at the center of things. Mr Biden should remember he is the Vice President elect and stop acting as if the presidency should be his.